Damn it, I'm surrounded by insane Alphas!

The air pressure in the car on my way home was frighteningly low.

Shi Ran huddled in the passenger seat, cautiously glancing at Gu Chen beside her out of the corner of her eye.

He was just worrying about how to explain it to Gu Chen when his phone vibrated.

It was a message from Wang Cheng:

How are you? Are you alright?

He occasionally replies with very small taps, which is like a dead man barely clinging to life.

The boss said he was coming to pick you up today, but he told me not to tell you.

Gu Chen is coming to pick me up?

Shi Ran was startled and subconsciously turned to look at the back row, where a beautifully packaged bouquet of flowers lay quietly.

He came to pick me up today, and he even brought flowers. Was it a surprise?

But the result?

He bumped into himself and Cheng Ye in the alley as soon as he arrived...

Shi Ran awkwardly looked away, only to see that Wang Cheng had sent another message.

How was I supposed to know that Cheng Ye was the brother of Demon Pill and Spirit Pearl! His coming to pick up the children, what a coincidence!

Cheng Ye is their older brother?!

Sometimes her eyes would dart around, and maybe... she could still fool Gu Chen.

He put down his phone, and somewhat guiltily reached out to tentatively touch the back of Gu Chen's hand.

As a result, Gu Chen simply avoided his touch with a blank expression.

Shi Ran's heart sank as well.

"Today isn't what you think... Me and..."

Before he could finish speaking, Gu Chen abruptly pulled the car over to the side of the road and turned to look at him.

"Shi Ran, just how many more Alphas are you going to provoke?"

"No... I didn't provoke him!" Shi Ran hurriedly explained, her mind racing. "It's all just... just work-related!"

"Work?" Gu Chen scoffed. "What kind of work requires a private meeting in a place like that?"

"He's the older brother of one of the kids in our project; he's here to pick up his child!!"

"Then why are you and him the only ones in the back alley?"

"I..." Shi Ran made up a reason that even she found lame, "I wanted to get to know Cheng Ye and ask him to be an ambassador for that global children's charity project, so..."

"I'll only ask you one question," Gu Chen looked up at him, "Did you know him before?"

Shi Ran naturally denied it, saying, "I don't know him! Today's encounter was purely accidental!"

But to his surprise, Gu Chen's expression darkened even more upon hearing this answer.

Gu Chen's pheromones exploded, cold and powerful, instantly filling the entire carriage.

Shi Ran was so frightened that her whole body trembled, her neck glands throbbed with pain, and she had some difficulty breathing.

"You're lying to me again."

Gu Chen's voice was low and husky, with an eerie calmness, "Shi Ran, is there a single word of truth in your mouth?"

"I……"

"How much longer are you going to keep the truth about the night of his car accident from me?"

Shi Ran's pupils suddenly contracted. How could he know about the car accident?

Did Lu Lin tell him?

Shi Ran knew she couldn't hide it any longer, and hurriedly changed her story: "We...we knew each other before, but that's all in the past! It's really not the kind of relationship you're thinking of! Besides, you've already marked me! How could I possibly go and bother someone else!"

"That's just a temporary marker!"

Gu Chen's voice suddenly rose, carrying a stubbornness he himself was unaware of.

It turns out he really cared about this "temporary" situation.

He was concerned that it wasn't thorough enough, permanent enough, or enough to keep Shi Ran firmly by his side.

Shi Ran's nose stung from his shout, and she raised her voice, her tone trembling with tears: "A temporary mark is still a mark! It's the first time in my life I've been marked by an Alpha! Gu Chen, what the hell do you want from me?"

After he finished speaking, the carriage fell into a deathly silence.

Gu Chen gripped the steering wheel tighter and tighter, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.

He couldn't bear to hear Shi Ran's tearful voice. Even though he was furious, he couldn't harden his heart.

The stalemate lasted for an unknown period of time.

Gu Chen restarted the car, then did something that even surprised himself—

He suppressed his aggressive pheromones.

Instead, a wisp of extremely restrained, even slightly clumsy and ingratiating pheromones tentatively spread out.

Shi Ran was stunned.

He secretly glanced at Gu Chen.

The man looked ahead, his profile still hard and cold, but that awkward pheromone scent never faded.

He is seeking peace.

Shi Ran even found it difficult to associate these two words with Gu Chen.

He's always been someone who responds better to gentle persuasion than force, especially when it comes to arguing!

So when Gu Chen softened his attitude, he lost his temper and said softly, "I'll be more careful in the future..."

Gu Chen's eyes flickered, and he blurted out, "Do you know how attractive you are to Alphas?"

Shi Ran lowered her head innocently, "Is it my fault?"

Gu Chen turned to look at him, but seeing Shi Ran blinking his innocent eyes, he couldn't ask him anything.

He looked away with a sigh, feeling disappointed in his son.

Shi Ran secretly observed the man's profile, and seeing that he seemed to relax a little, she reached out and turned on the music, trying to adjust the atmosphere.

The car's AI, which seemed rather dim-witted, then announced, "We've detected a low mood inside the car, so we'll play a sad playlist for you~"

The song that came out right away was over the top.

How could I bear to blame you for making a mistake! I gave you freedom... but I went too far!

Shi Ran was so frightened that her whole body stiffened, and she quickly switched to the next song.

The next song was even more masterful, a testament to unwavering devotion.

Seeing you and him in front of me—to prove my love!—is just foolish!

Gu Chen's expression grew increasingly grim, and Shi Ran hurriedly summoned the true god:

You smell of his perfume... It's my nose's fault, I shouldn't have smelled his beauty. I'll wipe it all away and stay with you...

The music stopped abruptly.

Gu Chen turned off the music and said calmly, "You can say whatever you want to say."

I was on the verge of tears, you stupid AI, just destroy it.

On the other side...

Cheng Ye returned home, but he was still somewhat dazed.

As soon as Mowan saw him return, she pounced on him, spinning around to show him the new Lego she won in today's competition.

Lingzhu, however, keenly sensed that her older brother was in a bad mood today.

Actually, when they were leaving by car, they passed by the coffee shop and happened to see his brother chasing after that older boy.

So, does the older brother like that Shi Ran older brother?

Lingzhu walked over thoughtfully. "Brother, our project tomorrow requires parents to attend. Can you come?"

Cheng Ye shook his head instinctively; he had no time to participate in such activities.

Unexpectedly, Lingzhu whispered, "Oh, I see. But Brother Shiran said... we can't hold the sports meet if not everyone is here."

Cheng Ye suddenly looked up. "Who did you say?"

He suddenly realized, "Oh right... when I picked them up today, Assistant Wang from Huanyu was also there, so..."

So this charity event was organized by Universal?

Wouldn't that mean I'd have the chance to see Shi Ran every day?

Cheng Ye immediately grabbed Lingzhu, who was about to leave looking disappointed, and said, "Isn't it a coincidence? I'm off tomorrow... I'll definitely join you!"

Demon Ball was overjoyed to hear this, "Yay! As expected, our brother loves us the most!"

Lingzhu smiled silently to herself, thinking, "My brother must love handsome guys the most."

The plot of five simps fawning over his wife is already showing signs of starting, hahaha.